Chapter 8

On page 178 of our textbook, the following question is asked: “How much

are you responsible for your success?” On pages 190-191 another question is asked:

“How easy is it to change [your] social class?” What are your answers to these questions?

How do these questions intersect with one another?

I doubt that making tremendous amount of money equals success. However, the article seems to mean that money equals success. I think I am responsible for any kind of success. I have to work hard and at the same time looking for opportunities for me to success, and I better do well once the opportunities come. But I'd not claim that I could succeed by myself, there must be other people helping me somehow or probably the God is helping me too even though I am not a religious person. I think it is hard to change social class, because people are living in the social class their entire life. It is hard and uncomfortable for them to try to move up. Once they feel the discomfort, they'd rather stay in their social class. I think a strong will is required to be success and to change social class, because there will be a lot of problems to face and a lot of struggles.

Chapter 7

Should gambling, prostitution, and recreational drugs be legalized?

What are the consequences, both positive and negative, of doing so?

I think gambling, prostitution and recreational drugs should be legalized. I think they should be legalized even though I do none of those activities. I think by legalizing them the government can have better control over them and probably can have some taxes too. For example, if prostitution is legalized, the government can require them to hospital to make sure the prostitutes are healthy to reduce STD. I don't know if there will be negative consequences since people are doing those activities when they are illegal anyway. Also I am not sure if there are going to be more people participating in those activities when they are legalized. Because I used to be so eager to drink when I was underage, but once I hit 21, I started to feel drinking is not that big of deal and I just don't feel like drinking no more.

Chapter 5

List the social statuses you occupy. Which ones are ascribed, and which

are achieved? What roles are you expected to play as a consequence of the positions

you occupy? How do you resolve possible role conflicts? (see pages 110-115).

The social statuses I occupy are: son, little brother, cousin, boy friend, full-time student, and part-time worker etc. Son, little brother, cousin are my ascribed social statuses. Boy friend, full-time student, and part-time job are my achieved social statuses. There are a lot of roles that I expected to play. Growing up in an Asian family, I have been told to study hard as a student and that is my priority. I have been taught to be nice and polite to my parents and do what they want me to do in order to be a good son. As a boy friend, my girl friend expects me to spend time with her and listen to her all the time and remember everything she has told me. There are a lot of role conflicts; I should spent time with my parents as a son, I should spent time with my girl friend as her boy friend, but at the same time I have to study hard and I have to work hard in order to make money. I think time management is important, that allows me to play all the roles most of the time.

Chapter 3

How have smart phones and websites like Facebook (material culture) changed

the way we interact (nonmaterial culture, norms, and values) and communicate? How does frequent “texting” and less talking affect the nature of our relationships, both positively and negatively?

I think smart phones and Facebook are convenient. Smart phones help you to get internet access almost anywhere you go, you will never get bored with you smart phone because there are so much apps and games to play. Facebook allows you to make more friends and at the same time it allows you to know what your friends are doing. But I've always wonder do this kind of technologies help to bring us closer or farther apart? I used to work in restaurant last year and I noticed most of the customers had a smart phone and they were playing their smart phones in the restaurant. They barely talked to their friends who were sitting next to them. I think they were having fun with their phones not with their friends. I have two cousins, they are sister and brother who live together and their rooms are right next to each other. So one day the sister went out and check-in at a place, then her brother commented something like “wow, I thought you are home! You just got out?” The sister replied “I had been out since the morning.” I think smart phones and Facebook have some positive impacts on us, but they affect us more negatively. That's why I still use my “stupid” phone instead of smart phone.

Initial thought

Initial thought: How much responsibility do individuals have to make things better for society?

Conversely, how much should society (social institutions like colleges, religious organization and the government) do to support individuals--particularly those in need or disadvantaged?

I think individuals have a lot of responsibility to make things better for society. Because a lot of things will be better when everyone is trying their best to take care themselves and to help others when they have the ability. There will be people who are not able to take care themselves well or people who need helps, this is when the society as whole should come in and help. Government can offer welfare for people who need it. Schools can teach students how to take care themselves and how to help others. Religious organizations are also helpful, I remember the church, in “30 Days”, gives out free furniture to the people in need.